On July 19, during the 12th meeting of the Da Nang People's Council, several representatives questioned the Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Pham Nam Son, about two delayed waste treatment plant projects with capacities of 650 tons/day and 1,000 tons/day. Currently, Da Nang collects 1,800 to 2,500 tons of household waste daily, but only the Khánh Sơn landfill, which uses the landfilling method, is available, often emitting unpleasant odors.
Mr. Pham Nam Son acknowledged that the two projects have faced long delays, encountering multiple procedural obstacles, and have yet to be approved by the city. The 650 tons/day waste treatment plant, which started construction in 2010, had its initial approval in 2014, and in 2016, the city adjusted the project's timeline. In 2019, the project proposed to update some technologies.
Since 2010, government agencies have been focused on finalizing the legal paperwork and land procedures. The investment procedures require approval from several ministries, including the Ministry of Defense. In June 2023, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment reviewed and recommended adjustments to the project. The developer has committed that once the city approves the project, it will be completed within 20 months.
The 1,000 tons/day waste treatment plant project, which started in 2017 with financing from the ADB and covers 5.3 hectares, has also faced delays. In 2019, the Prime Minister adjusted the list of PPP projects, including this one. The implementation involves three main stages: approval of the feasibility study report, project approval, and investor selection through a tender process. The project has now submitted its design for evaluation by the Ministry of Construction.
"By July, the city’s appraisal council will assess the project, and the investor has committed to completing the plant within 20 months after receiving investment approval," Mr. Son stated.
Khánh Sơn landfill uses the landfilling method, but it regularly emits odors on the road leading to Ba Na Hills.
However, Mr. Son's response did not sit well with the council members. Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong expressed concern that the legal procedures for both projects are still under review, and it is unclear when they will be launched. She pointed out that during the previous City Council meeting at the end of 2021, the Department had promised that the two plants would be completed by 2024. "The people are very concerned about this promise. If you promise, there must be a solution to carry it out," said Ms. Phuong. Representative Nguyen Manh Toan remarked, "It's hard to imagine when these two projects will start construction after hearing the Director’s response."
Mr. Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Council, noted that these two waste treatment plants had been promised by many past leaders of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to the Council and citizens. However, incomplete legal procedures, investment barriers, and issues related to national defense land have made it impossible to keep those promises.
The Chairman of the Da Nang People's Council expressed concern that by the end of 2024, waste treatment could face serious challenges as the sixth waste bin at Khánh Sơn landfill will be full, and no investment proposal has been made for the seventh bin. Even if the two waste treatment plants are approved, they will not be completed until the end of 2025. The sixth bin started operation in May 2023 and is expected to be overloaded by the end of 2024.
Mr. Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of Da Nang People's Committee, said that the 650 tons/day waste plant has already reported to the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, and there is now a policy on its progress. The capacity will remain unchanged, with the possibility of increasing it if necessary. The city has also planned for the landscaping, space, and compensation for the project area. The investor for the 650 tons/day plant is very active, and the city is doing everything possible to support the swift commencement of construction.
As for the 1,000 tons/day plant, the investment proposal has been approved, and the location is in the integrated waste treatment area. "If we do not accelerate the progress of the 650 tons/day plant, we will face difficulties. The city has prepared documents for the investment plan for the seventh bin at Khánh Sơn landfill and will soon present the proposal to the People's Council for approval," said Mr. Chinh.
